Tonle Sap Lake is confronting severe challenges, including rising poverty, food insecurity, and environmental decline, exacerbated by climate change, illegal overfishing, deforestation, and upstream dam construction. These pressures have also led to poor health and education outcomes, particularly for women and children in the region.

The EU-CAPFISH/FOSTER Project (Lot 1) addresses these issues by empowering members of Community Fisheries (CFIs) in floating villages through livelihood diversification. The project fosters community-led entrepreneurship and employment in ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, and renewable energy while simultaneously enhancing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), health, and education services.

After 3.5 years of implementation, the initiative has made substantial progress in improving sustainable livelihoods and access to critical services for fishing communities in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR), with notable achievements across key focus areas.

After three and a half years of impactful work, the EU-funded CAPFISH/FOSTER Lot 1 project—Fisher Folks Making Circular Economy Work for the Western Tonle Sap Lake—has concluded, marking a transformative journey for fishing communities around the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR).

Please check out the brochure for more information.